The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-11-15

90 some distance, and could not be
back before eight o'clock in the even.
ing. Alfred, on the other hand, had
no intention OF keeping his father out
till that hour, and besides this, he
had to return that night to his par
ish. for which purpose he must leave
st. Pancras Station at about seven
o'clock. Who was to take charge Of
old Mr.. Stuckey in the intervalY
al dare say can get home" said
Ephraim. "What time will you re-
turn"
THAT depends on father" Not la
ter than five o'clock in any case. As ]
have to be at st. Pancras by seven, J
think | shall leave here before $50. F"
~ think ] can manage to be back
by that time" said Ephraim, "and
there is no harm in leaving the gov.
ernor for half an hour by himself. II J
am not here when you return put him
into that armchair, give him his pipe.
and tell him in your most impressive
voice that he is not to stir upon any
account until come in"
Are you sure that he will be all
right?"
Perfectly. He would not move il
the house were on fire."
With this understanding the parties
separated.
It was between $50 and 8 p. m. on
the same day when Mr.. Ephrsim
Stuckey presented himselfat Hammer
smith Police Station and asked for
assistance. He made at the same time
a statement from which. IN addition to
the above facts, it appeared that in
consequence OF business Unexpectedly
OBTAINING him in town, he had not
reached home until close upon seven
O'Clock. He then found no trace oil
his father or OF his brother, and after
waiting for the return OF the servant
and making inquiries about the neigh
borhood, he had come to the conclu'
sion that on being left alone his fathe.
had, for the first time on record, tax
en- it into his head to go out by him.
self, and had either lost himself OF
met with some worse mischance.
Subsequent events confirmed the
latter theory. The Rev. Alfred Stuck
ey, on being communicated with by
telegram next day, replied that he
had left his father at home in his chair
at 5:15 on the previous evening. On
the same day Mr.. Stuckey's hat was
found in che osier-beds at Chiswlck. A
day or two later walking stick, which
had certainly belonged to him, was
picked up IN the river at Chelsea. The
police continued the hue and cry with
undated vigor, but after these dis.
coveries only one theory OF the old
gentleman's disappearance seemed
tenable. There was no motive tn
suggest his having met with foul play.
He had neither the means nor the
strength to have travelled to any
distance. The conclusion seemed in
evitabe that he had strayed out for
some purpose-perhaps for no other
reason ths nat his days outing had
unduly ex, him-and had some
how fallen into the river. 1t was a
considerable time, however, befor
the discovery OF the body put the old
mans fate beyond question. During
the interval Ephraim Stuckey was
more than once summoned to differ.
emit points between Kew Bridge and
Gravesend for the purpose OF inspect.
ing the CHASTITY human fotsam and
jestam OF tine river but without result,
Four weeks had nearly elapsed
when he received information
that the body OF an elderly
man had been found at Dept
ford, the linen of which appeared to
have been marked with an IS" The
features were all but unrecognizable,
but, after such inspection as was pos
sible, Ephraim without hesitation
pronounced the remains to be thoss
OF his father.
The inquest which followed, ano
which was. OF course, held at Deptford
added only one additional fact ts
those above stated. The medica
evidence showed that there was SO
we're confusion on the head, which had
probably been caused before death
and the doctor was strongly o
opinion that the deceased had beer
stunned by this blow, and ther
thrown into the river. There wa
nothing, however, to point to a def
mite conclusion, and alter hearing the
evidence OF the Rev. Alfred Stuckey
and his brother as to the mental con
dition OF the deceased, the jury re
turned verdict, OF Found Drowned
together with other documents
A certificate OF this verdict
relating to the death. was sub
sequently lodged by the Rev. Al
fred Stuckey, as administrator OF tn
deceased, with the Monument Assur
ance Company, in whose Office the in
surance or Martin Stuckey's life haf
been effected.
About a week after this was done
Mr.. Capper, the manager OF the Mon